Collapsible shower



APrll 14, 1953 A. J. s'ruRwoLD 2,634,425

l COLLAPSIBLE SHOWER Filed July 1e, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 figs.

April 14, 1953 A. J. STURWOLD COLLAPSIBLE SHOWER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 FiledJuly 16, 1949 NNI x f QN 4 ////M// -1 MN www Patented Apr. 14, 1953UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE SHOWER Arthur J. Sturwold,Chicago, Ill.

Application July 16, 1949, Serial No. 105,098

3 Claims. (Cl. 4145) This invention relates to a shower land moreparticularly to a collapsible shower and is particularly adapted for usein a trailer.

The use of trailers as abodes has become quite popular in recent yearsand the development of trailers and establishment of trailer campssupplying all the utilities has consequently been rapid. Because of thelimited space in trailers however, bathing has been a diicult task for atrailer inhabitant. A bathtub is impracticable because it takes up toomuch room. A permanent shower room is feasible but the area it occupiesis dead space as it is unused most of the time. Also such a shower roomis usually unsightly. Use of a shower, furthermore, is oftenunsatisfactory because present day shower curtains are inadequate toprevent the water spray from escaping and damaging the furniture.

Thus one of the objects of this invention is to provide a collapsibleshower which may be folded up and out of the way when not in use.

Another object of this invention is to provide a collapsible showerwhich may be quickly, easily and inexpensively installed, particularlyin trailers.

Further objects and advantages of this infvention will become apparentas the following description proceeds and the features of novelty whichcharacterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity inthe claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

A preferred embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Figure 1 is a partially broken away side view of the part of a trailershowing the general arrangement of the collapsible shower within thetrailer.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of- Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the top hanger rod which supports the showercurtain.

Figure 5 is a view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a detail view showing a typical groove in the bar shown inFigure 4.

Figure '1 is a side view of the entire shower curtain unfolded.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the entire shower curtain when folded.

Figure 9 is an enlarged view of a vertical cross section through theshower curtain.

Figure l0 is a partial view of the interior of the trailer showing thetop hanger rod which supports the showerl curtain, and the catch basinof the shower stall in the folded away position.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a trailer II, in which isdesignated a roof or ceiling I2, a floor I3, and a wall I4. A showerhead |5 is shown attached to ceiling I2 and supplied by fluid throughhose I6. Fixedly fastened to ceiling I2 by brackets I1 is a continuoushanger rod I8 which is in spaced relation to the shower head I5. Hangingfrom rod I8 by means of hooks I9 is a shower curtain 20 which has a hem2| in its upper end. AHem 2| has inserted therein a number of rods 22 towhich are fastened hooks I9. The hooks emerge crosswise from the hem 2|through holes 23. The lower edge of curtain 28 is also provided with ahem 24 in which are also inserted a number of rods 25. Immediatelyadjacent and above the rods 25 in curtain 20 are a number of holes 26.

As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 there is sup-l ported on floor I3,beneath the shower head I5. a catch pan 21. Floor I3 has a drain 28therein. Catch pan 21 has a drain spout 29 shown which is adapted toregister with drain 28 in floor I3. Catch pan 21 is also hinged 30 alonga portion of its edge to wall I4 and is provided with a clasp 3| forengaging a bracket 32, mounted on wall I4, when the catch pan 21 isswung out of position from the floor I3 against wall I4 so as to bestored. The catch pan in the stored away position is shown in Figure 10.There is also provided a number of horizontally extending and downwardlypointing ngers `33 attached to theinside vertical wall of the catch pan21. A detail of the fingers is shown in Figure 5. These fingersengagecurtain 20 through holes 26.

Figure 4 shows the continuous hanger rod I8 and the bracket I1. Rod I8has grooves 34 at a plurality of points so as to engage hooks I9 bywhich shower curtain 20 is suspended. A detail of groove 34 is shown inFigure 6.

Figure l0 shows the catch pan 21 in the stowed away position and a meansof sealing up drain 28 by use of a plug 35.

In operationthe catch pan is released and lowered from the positionshown in Figure 10. Plug 35 is removed and drain 29 enters and registerswith drain 28. The shower curtain 20 is then unfolded and hooked inposition on hanger rod |8. Then the lower end of the shower curtain ispulled until the fingers 33 enter holes 26 at the bottom end of curtain20. This is possible because the shower curtain material is somewhatresilient. The catch pan 21 should be so fastened to wall I4 that thepan does not quite rest on the trailer floor, so that under the weightof the person showering the pan will descend a very small distance untilit does rest on the oor.

The purpose for this is to make sure that the shower curtain is tautwhen in use as then there will be no folds or open spaces due tolooseness in the curtain which will permit escape of the shower spray.It is pointed out that if the curtain is of the correct heightinitially, only a very small movement is necessary to make the curtaintaut. The fingers 33 passing through holes 26 bear on rods: 25vandtherefore the^load"is evenly distributed'by' rods 125 along thelength of the hem. The rods I8 at the top of the curtain serve the samepurpose.

It can be seen that the hanger rod.and\..the catch pan may be diierentshapes. When'that is the case, the rods in the hems of'thexshower.-v

curtain can be made so that .the .contour ,of the shower curtain isapproximatelythe'same asthat holes immediately adjacent andafbove"-thebars in said lower hem, a catch pan having a plurality of horizontallyextending downwardly pointed ngersmounted on the inner vertical wall ofsaid of the member to which the shower curtains-is l attached.

.Thus it. can;` be seen that I have `,provided a y collapsibleshower-which canbe. easily folded up and stored away, which may bequickly, easily and inexpensivelyv installed, which'is easilyadaptablev.tosmall enclosures where-, spaceis atea premium-such. as in trailers,and whichprovides an. improved showerchamber for preventingleakage ofthe water spray.

While there hast-been shown and described. a particular. embodiment; off .this invention, it will be 'obvious to those .-ski-lled. in theartthat vari- `dus changes and modifications canbe madeftherein withoutAdeparting vfrom the. invention., and,

the1'efore,it.is aimed inthe. appended claims to covenall, such changesand modi-ilcations as Vfall within .the true ,spirit .and scope. of the.invention.

I claim:

.1.,Afcollapsible showerchamberfior..I use in a room having, affloor,a'ceiling,side.walls, anda shower head ailixedto the ceilingand-supplied with fluid, .comprising a;hanger fastened te .the ceilingof said room and-in spaced 4.relationto the shower head,. .-said hangerbeing,V grooved at.. a plurality. of, points, a yflexible shower.curtain, a catch.- .pan supported on-the .oozt of.. saidtrailer, means.for hanging said ilexibleishowencurtain fromssad hanger,` said meanscomprising. a hem inthe top; edge .f ofY said.n shower lcurtain, aplurality. of lrigidfbars insertedinsa-idhernI a. pluralitypf ,hooksattachedfto -each vrigid. .bar -A in .the hem .of saidfshower' curtainand extendingcross-- wise.. through openings in said q henhtsaid.4 hooksbeing. hooked over said hanger. and in register with the grooves infsaidhangen.meanslforasecurim?,r the .-.bottorn end.` of. said showerl.curtain to.;the catch pan,k .and,means for.: disposing of.1the-uid.caught ,by saidcatchpan.

2. A, collapsible shower chamber. .for...use.in.a room having. a oor, a.ceiling, .side walls,. anda. shower head;v affixed to .theceiling andsupplied wth` fluid comprising. a. hanger. fastened toi the. ceiling ofsaid room and in spaced relation'toithe shower. head,4 a. flexible.shower;V curtain .comprising a..",sheet. of... resilient waterproof..material 'pan and being so positioned as to engage the holesnimmediateimadjacent and above the bars in the lower hem of said showercurtain, a drain through "theifloor 'of said room, and a drain in saidcatch pam-adapted to register with the drain in the floor of said room.i

.Avcollapsible shower. chamb.er..for...use.in a room havinga oor aceiling,sideV wallsfand a shower head aidxedtotheceiling and suppliedwith uid comprisinga hanger fastened toathe ceilingoisaid room and inspaced vrelatontdthe shower.head,.said hanger being grooved. at. a.plurality ofA points, a exibleshowercurtain comprising a sheet. of.resilient.waterproof....materal. hemmed. at opposite. edgesito provide.a...plur.'ali,ty of hems in said curtain along itsedges, a plurality ofhooks. attachedto each. .ofthe .rigid hars .in .the top hem. cisaid.shower curtainand; ,extending cross-wise. .through openings'-in said'.hem,..s'aid hooks being-hooked over sadlhanger andinregis.- terwith?Ythe grooves .in .said hanger.'y thelower hem of said 'showerI curtain,being perforatedto forma pluralitypholes immediately; adjacent and abovethe barsinsaid lower`. hem,said.bars. in thetop` and lowenhemsofthelshower. curtain being of Asuchlengltharl-dishape.asto approximatethe contour oi `the bodies to which saidhemsare attached, a ,catch panhaving, a plurality ohorizontally .extending ,i downwardly pointedlngersmounted. on lthe' inner vertical. wiallnf. `said pan and being sopositioned as toengagatheholes immediately adjacent .and abovethebars`.in1the lower hem'ofsaid' shower curtain, a' :drain through thefloor. of said room, and a drainVV in said `catch pan adaptedto registerwith the' drain intheoor of said-room. .l

ARTHUR" J;"STURWQI3D.

l References Cited inl the'-A leof thisfpatentV UNITED, STATES PATENTS.

